5 Truly Sustainable Packaging Ideas for Business
As sustainability continues to dominate the packaging industry, the demand for eco-friendly solutions shows no signs of slowing down. Compostable packaging, growing at a remarkable 6.2% annually, is paving the way for a future where businesses must integrate sustainable alternatives to thrive.
In 2023, 81% of consumers expressed a preference for sustainable packaging. In addition, UN’s has an ambitious goal to reduce plastic waste by 80% by 2040. Businesses can no longer afford to ignore this shift.
As compostable and biodegradable materials, Solinatra is the truly sustainable alternative that helps companies reduce reliance on fossil ingredients and retain customer convenience at the same time. What’s more - Solinatra materials run seamlessly in existing production machinery, meaning no expensive capex changes! Explore the possible applications with Solinatra that are designed to meet your packaging needs with true sustainability!
1. Plant Pots and Mangrove Pots
Mangrove pots made of Solinatra
Traditional plastic plant pots, often used for seedlings or gardening, contribute heavily to single-use plastic waste in the horticulture industry. Only about 10% of local authorities in the UK accept them, according to analysts at the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP). Many of them are considered contaminated, and typical black plastic pots are often rejected by sorting machines at recycling centres.
Nurseries are mostly reliant on traditional black pots or plastic polybags, but Solinatra has a truly circular grade solution. Solinatra Universal Dark transforms coffee grinds into various non-food packaging applications, such as plant pots. It has a dark and opaque look that mimics the conventional counterparts without any drawbacks.
For mangroves, which grow in coastal waters, biodegradable pots are the sustainable solution without pollution. Mangrove saplings are typically planted in plastic, which breaks down as the tree grows, releasing pollution that can’t be recovered directly into the water. Billions of mangroves are pledged to planted around the world as part of reforestation and carbon capture programmes, Solinatra is the truly sustainable solution for mangrove planting.
2. Hangers
Clothing hanger made of Solinatra
Research has shown that 85 percent of plastic hangers end up in landfills. That’s 34 billion hangers per year, an amount that could fill the Empire State Building 20 times over. A report by UK Arch and Hook showed that 954.6 million plastic hangers are used per year in the UK clothing market, of which 16% are transit hangers. In the luxury clothing sector, 31% of plastic hangers are used purely for the purpose of transportation, and only 50% of hanging stock retails in store on the hanger on which it was transported.
Clothes hangers made of Solinatra are 100% natural. Solinatra use renewable feedstocks and are fully compostable. Replacing plastic hangers with sustainable alternatives is crucial for reducing landfill waste and supporting a circular economy in the fashion industry.
3. Coffee Capsules
Coffee capsules made of Solinatra
The coffee capsule market has grown rapidly in recent years and is expected to see strong growth in the next few years to $21.53 billion at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.0% in 2028. However, with this high demand, only 5% of the 14 billion pods sold annually actually get recycled, which means most of them end up in landfills.
But not only global customers who believe that compostable packaging is the most sustainable option (McKinsey, 2023). Wageningen University and Research concluded that compostable coffee capsules are the most sustainable option compared to aluminium and traditional plastics.
A coffee capsule made of Solinatra is certified "OK compost industrial" by TÜV Austria CERT GmbH. Also suitable for home composting are brands that are using Solinatra coffee capsules, allowing their customers to collect the used pods with organic waste without having to separate the used coffee grounds. Solinatra coffee capsules will fully break down at the same time with banana skin.
4. Straws
Straws made of Solinatra
The growing availability of alternative materials for straws combined with a global shift toward biodegradable options is driving significant market growth. The global compostable straws market is anticipated to accumulate a market value of US$ 1,670 million in 2023 and is expected to garner a valuation of US$ 3,250 million by exhibiting a CAGR of 6.8% in the forecast period 2023 to 2033.
Restaurants, cafes, and bars are increasingly adopting biodegradable straws because they add a touch of sustainability to the dining experience, which would open new opportunities in the growing market of eco-conscious customers.
There are many material options to create more sustainable straws for businesess. However, compostable and biodegradable straws made of Solinatra stand out as the best alternatives for business and customer use. Compostable and biodegradable straws made of Solinatra look and feel just like plastic straws, but these straws break down naturally in composting environments without leaving behind harmful microplastics. Switching to biodegradable straws is an easy yet impactful way to reduce straws pollution in marine environment.
5. Cutleries
Cutleries made of Solinatra
Disposable plastic cutlery is commonly used in fast food and takeaway services, often used for mere minutes before being discarded. These single-use utensils can take hundreds of years to decompose, releasing microplastics into the environment. With estimated 40 billion plastic cutlery and utensils disposed of every year in the US alone, compostable and biodegradable cutlery made of Solinatra is the truly sustainable alternative.
Cutlery made of Solinatra is designed to perform just as well as traditional plastic cutlery. They are strong enough to handle a wide variety of food types and occasions, from takeaways to airlines. Made from 100% natural and plant-based ingredients, businesses and consumers can rest assured that their choice isn’t contributing to environmental pollution.
The future of packaging lies in sustainability. Choosing truly sustainable materials that can return to nature without leaving harmful contaminants is key. Switching to 100% natural, compostable, and biodegradable materials made of Solinatra, businesses are not just reducing plastic waste but also investing in a potential market in the future.
Businesses in every corner of industries can make a collective impact by using Solinatra. Now is the perfect time to switch!